Word Origin & History

errant mid-14c., from Anglo-Fr. erraunt, from two O.Fr. words that were confused even before they reached English: 1. O.Fr. errant, prp. of errer "to travel or wander," from L.L. iterare, from L. iter "journey, way," from root of ire "to go" (see ion); 2. O.Fr. errant, pp. of errer (see err). Much of the sense of the latter has gone with English arrant.

Example Sentences for errant

Even here, the marchioness paused a moment, in thought, before she would leave her errant nephew alone with her ward.

Burns smiled as a king might upon a young knight seeking an errant.

Through a world darkened and lost, through a civilisation in its death agony, our little Cockney errant went and found his Edna!

Occasionally some flame would come in pursuit of her errant swain.

I roamed about in the gloom searching for my errant Rosinante.

You must not presume to say that, because I confide to you all my errant thoughts.

Usually, I have discovered the errant one—with the help of my guards, of course.

Yet could I not come to speech of hym, but lost my errant with his cheefe men.

It must have been at best an errant fancy, and if concerned with commemorating anybody concerned with commemorating himself.

A kiss or two, an errant arm about the waist, or a hand upon the breasts—what of that?